Q&A: Tech Hedge Fund Quantitative

Obtained undergrad from Columbia, Wharton MBA, CFA

Looking to give guidance to undergrads seeking to break into the industry, have lots of experience in recruitment. 

Ask me anything.

 

Apply to be a WSO Mentor

20 Comments
 

What are your views on breaking into Quant Hedge funds from a MFE?

Currently doing a master’s in Financial Mathematics from Johns Hopkins part time while working for a retail brokerage - goal is to get into prop trading / options market making but would love to hear what your opinion might be on opportunities in the Quant Hedge Fund space and what skills they are looking for vs prop trading / market making.

 

Definitely doable.

From my experience if you are competent enough/ have qualifications it really comes down to connections.

Job is great and I enjoy it more than my IB days but definitely a tax. Exhausted 24/7, have some friends in sales who work 1/2 the time and make the same money which is frustrating but if you’re willing to grind it’s worth it.

 

Thanks for the reply!

Another quick question for you as well: how does the interview process for quant hedge funds differ from that of market makers / prop shops; that is, if you’re familiar with that side.

For market makers, depending on the role: mental math, stochastic calculus, linear algebra and options pricing theory, the green book etc.

What topics are most hit on typically in an interview for a quant hedge fund / what would you recommend someone study for prep?

 

Thanks for the help. I am a rising senior at USC studying Finance and CS. Doing S&T this summer at Goldman and IB next summer (I know doing a summer analyst in IB after graduating which is a bit weird - figured out finance was for me very late). I am really in love with public markets and the cause/effect relationships on why things happen. I had a chance to attend a fellowship at DE Shaw and really loved it and am very sure I want to work at a long/short equity or multi strategy fund. Even if I can’t get DE shaw, citadel, p72, I am totally fine trying to find a smaller shop who would want to have me. I just didn’t feel working at an investment bank has been best for me. I would appreciate your honest advice on what you would recommend doing. 

 

I go to GMU, a not prestigious school, how can I stand out on applications for ib or preferably hedgefunds. I am really good at math, but not sure how to leverage that given my unis prestige or lack thereof

 

Ab labore et nihil. Esse deserunt et sit quasi nulla libero repudiandae. Qui aut voluptatem quidem sit ipsa ipsa. Est velit enim neque amet mollitia quisquam.

Nisi est tenetur quam esse dolor rerum rerum est. Facilis fugiat eum quia. Quam voluptatum eaque magni eius et omnis. Laboriosam eaque eum doloribus maiores voluptate minima.

Suscipit officia vel vel voluptatem et accusantium. Error eos similique pariatur maiores nemo repellendus et. Omnis voluptates ipsum et quidem sit. Enim aut ut dolor possimus deleniti nihil dolorum. Nemo explicabo tempora quis et doloremque.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Millennium Partners 95.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (77) $191
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”